Reds' Bailey activated from DL for season debut

Homer Bailey will throw his first pitch of the 2015 season Saturday against the division rival St. Louis Cardinals.

The Cincinnati Reds' right-hander was activated from the 15-day disabled list and is matched up against Carlos Martinez for his season debut. Cincinnati optioned right-hander Pedro Villarreal to Triple-A Louisville to make room for Bailey on the active roster. 

Bailey, who was recovering from forearm surgery, threw 5 2/3 innings in a rehab assignment with Louisville last Sunday. 

Limited to 23 starts after throwing 200-plus innings in back-to-back seasons, Bailey enters the second of a six-year, $105-million contract extension he signed with the Reds in 2014. 

He posted a 3.71 ERA and 1.23 WHIP while striking out 7.7 batters per nine innings last season.